Senior Project - Zero Six Coffee Fix

Looking for a unique and avant garde place to grab a quick and tasty drink? Look no further, Zero Six has got your coffee fix. This coffee experience has definitely been the most surprising out of the bunch I've visited thus far. By surprising, I mean the whole lot. The interior, the lovely conversation and funny stories shared with the baristas, the unexpected (yet fully welcomed) amount of options, and so on.

Zero Six is located right off of Parkcenter Boulevard, a handful of minutes away from campus. Not too bad. And although that's only a block or so away from my apartment, this was my first time ordering from here, and most certainly not my last.

But what precisely made this experience one that I'd want to have again?

Hands down, it was the incredibly friendly, helpful and sociable staff. Thank you David for being so kind in your recommendations and for bringing lighthearted conversation to an incredibly stressful and uncertain time. And thank you to the owner, Genie, for prepping my drink and kindly offering up photo recommendations.

Thanks to her recommendations, I was able to capture this first shot of my drink order; an iced matcha latte with oat milk. Although not listed on their menu, turmeric and matcha lattes are available for order. Also, in addition to oat milk, their non-dairy alternatives include coconut, soy, and almond.

My drink was incredibly sweet, or at least too much for my liking. It would be the perfect treat if you're craving something on the sweeter end. However, when pertaining to the matcha world, my personal preference falls on the more earthy and savory end. In my opinion, an overly sweetended matcha masks the innate flavor of the tea itself. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

All of that being said, I would definitely come again, but order differently. Don't quote me, but I think they use a syrup (by default) in their matcha lattes. So if you're like me when it comes to matcha, omit the syrup and you should be set. 3 beans, for now.

But what if you're not a fan of matcha?

They offer up an impressive array of unique spins on traditional coffee drinks. Some of their local favorites include:

Shake Ya Mullet Mocha (toasted marshmallow mocha)
Pretentious Arse (doppio w/a side of soda water)
Voldemort (Americana w/white chocolate + peppermint + white coffee)
Butter Beer (cinnamon, brown sugar, butter, vanilla latte)

and my personal favorite...

Mind Reader Challenge (ask how we can blow your mind!)

But if you're feeling in the mood for something more simple, they also serve your classic coffee, espresso, latte and mocha drinks. And if you're hungry, they've got your back yet again with pastries made in house, breakfast burritos, croissant and bagel sandwiches. Clearly, they're not skimping on options. 5 beans.

But wait- you didn't think I'd glaze over our little friends in the bottom left corner did you?

Meet the "creatures" of Zero Six. These little guys are constructed with a hodgepodge of children's toys and are brilliantly crafted by Genie and her mom. This duo has come up with quite the clever way to repurpose and give a new lease on life to forgotten toys. To some, the "creatures" may look like something straight out of a horror movie, but for others, they're the perfect holiday gift. Genie informed me that her and her mother make a large batch around the holidays, in perfect time for people to buy them for white elephant. Quite clever.

Before learning that they are most commonly purchased as gifts, Genie had mentioned that they are actually currently running low. At first I was confused what she meant by that and thought, "Where could they possibly be going? Are they running away?" In that case, it really wouldn't be too far from a horror movie, now would it? We laughed and she carried on sharing her story.

"Stand here if your marriage might not make it through the 30 day quarantine"

"We are thankful you are standing here"

"You standing here makes it so we can stay here, thank you -Zero Six Crew"

"Stand here if you want no one to talk to you"

If the creatures, bright colors and ornately decorated space weren't telling enough of Zero Six's personality, these signs sure are. To inject even more humor into the bleak environment, they've sprinkled funny socially distanced related signs throughout the shop. I photographed just a few favorites, as seen above. Have a laugh.

While on the topic of their space, I do believe it is important to recognize that the bright lights and ornate decorations could be a distraction to those looking to study. If you're not bothered by a busy atmosphere as you work, this might be the perfect spot for you. But if you fall on the opposite end of the spectrum, I might suggest grabbing your drink to-go or enjoying it on their patio seating. 4 beans.

Long story short, what I've learned from this visit is that Zero Six truly knows how to bring a fun and unique twist to not only their space, but the coffee experience as a whole. What could have been a drab day spent in quarantine, was easily brightened up by a trip to Zero Six. I highly recommend a visit if you're looking for a fun and lighthearted escape from the familiar routine.